Forty three of the deaths were from Southern Tagalog, followed by Central Luzon with 15 and Bicol region with 18. Seventy-two people remain missing, mostly from Bicol.

Basyang hit the country last July 13, pounding the main island of Luzon with maximum gusts of 120 kilometres (74 miles) an hour.

At least 48,640 families or 241,651 persons were reported to have been affected by Basyang from 709 baranggays, 5 cities and 47 municipalities in 12 provinces.

The typhoon caught the capital by surprise after the state weather service PAGASA warned that only provinces north of Metro Manila will be hit.

The estimated cost of damage to infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries and schools in Regions 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5 and Metro Manila were placed by the government at PhP 74.91 M.

Appeal for support

As of this writing, 465 families or 2,365 persons remain inside evacuation centers, the NDCC said. These families need food and non-food items such as: rice, canned goods, water, hygiene kits, clothes, bedding and shelter kits.

For your donations, please call 929-9820 / 929-9822 or drop by CDRC’s office at 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City.

Sources:

Philippine Daily Inquirer, 07/15/2010

The Philippine Star, 07/20/2010

National Disaster Coordinating Council Situation Report No. 18, 07/20/2010

At least 26 people were confirmed dead, and 44 others remain missing after the typhoon hit the country late Tuesday, pounding the main island of Luzon with maximum gusts of 120 kilometres (74 miles) an hour.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported that 30,260 families or 151,351 persons were affected by ‘Basyang’ in 408 barangays of 7 cities and 62 municipalities in 12 provinces.

Electricity was down throughout Luzon, including the capital Manila, with more than 90 percent of Manila’s 12 million residents without electricity Wednesday afternoon. The national energy transmission company warned that the power outage in some areas of Manila and neighbouring regions may last for up to four days.

The capital’s railway system was also down due to the power outage, while the government closed down elementary and high schools.

Basyang was the first strong typhoon of the season, and its strength took many people in Metro Manila by surprise after the state weather service, PAGASA, said the typhoon would only strike provinces to the north of Luzon.

The estimated cost of damage to infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries and schools in Regions 4-A, 5 and Metro Manila were placed by the government at PhP 23.696 M.

Appeal for support

As of this writing, 1,526 families or 7,545 persons remain inside 37 evacuation centers, the NDCC said. These families need food and non-food items such as: rice, canned goods, water, hygiene kits, clothes, bedding and shelter kits.

For your donations, please call 929-9820 / 929-9822 or drop by CDRC’s office at 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City.

Sources:

Philippine Daily Inquirer, 07/15/2010

National Disaster Coordinating Council Situation Report No. 9, 07/15/2010

Background on issue:

On the 26th of May, flash floods ravaged through the 10 villages of Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura, in Northern Maguindanao. The heavy rains lasted from Wednesday until Saturday, flooding the low-lying areas. A total of 47, 552 individuals/9388 families have been reported as being affected. On the 28 May, affected families were evacuated to Dawa Center, Simuay for safety. Fortunately, by the morning of the 29th, the floods had subsided enough to allow the evacuees to return to their homes.  A damages and needs assessment was conducted in the affected areas by the MDCC Sultan Kudarat Team. So far damages have been calculated at 15 homes and 40 hectares of agricultural crops completely destroyed.

National Disaster Coordinating Council Incident Report, updated as of May 29th, 2010 @ 8:00pm

Houses razed by the fire

At least 4,000 families were left homelss Saturday after a fire raged for seven hours in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City.

The Muntinlupa fire marshall said around 800 houses, mostly made of light materials, were destroyed. The authorities estimated the cause of damage at P85 million.

The victims were later evacuated to a covered court in the barangay. Fire investigators have yet to determine what caused the fire.

Appeal for support

The affected families are in need of food and non-food items:

• Food (rice, sugar, canned goods,cooking oil, coffee, bottled water, noodles)

• Non-food (sleeping mats, blankets, medicines, laundry soaps, kitchen utensils, water containers, plastic sheets, portalets, and construction materials for housing repairs)

Homeless people at the evacuation center

Donations may be sent through the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC) at 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City, Philippines. Or you may deposit your donations to the following accounts:

Dollar Account

Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number:  2636-0015-83

Bank:  Metrobank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Peso Account

Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number:  1560-6430-16

Bank:  China Bank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Sources:

www.inquirer.net

Disaster Needs and Capacities Assessment Report

More photos here.

photo from philstar.com

In a report by the Department of Agriculture, 158,166 ha of farmland are affected by the dry spell. Of these, 35,360 ha are palay fields and 122,748 are corn fields. A total of 200 metric tons of palay, corn and other crops worth P2.84 billion are already damaged.

The 14 drought-stricken provinces are Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya and Quirino in Northern Luzon, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon in Region 4-B; Masbate in Bicol; and Antique, Guimaras and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas, according to PAGASA.

Of the 14 provinces, Isabela suffers most. It was recently placed under state of calamity due to losses which amounted to P1.85 billion from 30,866 MT of damaged crops, based on a report by DA. Cagayan, likewise, was placed under state of calamity.

In Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra and Ifugao, at least 8,000 hectares of rice and corn lands are drying up, and as water levels in Magat dam dips, farmers expect not just loss in agricultural produce but also blackouts. Tribal leaders are now thinking of reviving rain dance.

In Western Visayas alone, DA said at least 30,000 farmers suffer from drought and losses in rice production worth P635 million are expected to go higher. Residents have now resorted to planting root crops and vegetables that are are more drought resistant, selling surplus so they could buy rice.

In Bicol, Dr. Manuel Carlos, top veterinarian, advised the government and private sectors to discuss saving crop production. This could also lead to scarcity of supply of pork and chicken as livestock industry is heavily dependent on crops.

Appeal for Assistance

CDRC and its Regional Centers are conducting Damages, Needs and Capacities Assessment (DNCA) in the affected areas.

Of the total number of affected farmers and their families, CDRC focuses on the most vulnerable whose needs often go unmet. They are carefully being identified based on the gravity of destruction, their economic capacity to cope, their accessibility to relief services and their willingness to help themselves.

Needs include:

-food provisions

-water supply

-drought-resistant seeds

Donations may be sent through the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center at 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City. Concerned individuals and donors can easily reach us at (632) 929-9822 / (632) 929-9820. Donations may also be sent through the following bank accounts:

Dollar Account

Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number:  2-63600158-3

Bank:  Metrobank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Peso Account

Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number:  3-63600741-3

Bank:  Metrobank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

References:

PAGASA

www.inquirer.net

www.philstar.com

Department of Agriculture. http://www.da.gov.ph/newindex2.php?pass=News_events/2010/feb/feb15_2010c.html

The fire spread quickly because the houses inside the 52-hectare Baseco compound were made of light materials and were built too close to each other.

The Bureau of Fire Protection said they were able to put out the fire at around 11:20 p.m. Initial reports said, faulty wiring was the cause of the fire.

Affected families will temporarily stay in nearby schools and basketball courts. Baseco is home to about 6,000 families.

Appeal for support

The affected families are in need of food and non-food items:

• Food (rice, sugar, canned goods,cooking oil, coffee, bottled water, noodles)
• Non-food (sleeping mat, blankets, medicine, laundry soap, kitchen utensils)

Donations may be sent through the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC) at 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City, Philippines. Or you may deposit your donations to the following accounts:

Dollar Account

Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number:  2636-0015-83

Bank:  Metrobank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Peso Account

Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number:  1560-6430-16

Bank:  China Bank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Photo from: Kadamay – Manila Chapter

Some 2,000 families or 6,000 individuals were left homeless after a fire struck Paco, Manila last January 13.

The fire hit the four densely populated Barangays of 821, 822, 823 and 824 at Gomez and Canonigo streets.  It lasted from five thirty in the afternoon (5:30 PM) until eight in the evening (8:00 PM).

A month old baby reportedly died in the fire and a person succumbed to death due to heart attack. An undetermined number of people were also hurt during the fire.

The affected families are temporarily staying at the Manuel Roxas Elem. School, Canonigo Covered Court, and Canonigo Basketball Court.

Most of them are sleeping on mats and paper boards, while others made do with the cold concrete floor.

Barangay 824 Chairman Manuel Cayanan said 90% of the affecetd families are dependent on relief and donations for food and other needs.

There were 3,600 children affected, and most of them had to stop schooling after they lost most of their school things to the fire.

Appeal for support

Based on the damage, needs and capacity  assessment conducted by CDRC’s regional center in the National Capital region, the Community Response for Enlightenement, Service and Transformation (CREST), the affected communities are in need of food and non-food items such as:

• Food (rice, sugar, canned goods,cooking oil, coffee, bottled water, noodles)
• Non-food (sleeping mat, blankets, medicine, laundry soap, kitchen utensils, school supplies)

Donations may be sent through the following:

Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC)

72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City, 1104 Philippines

Tel. # (632) 929-9820 / 22

Dollar Account

Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number:  2636-0015-83

Bank:  Metrobank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Peso Account

Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number:  1560-6430-16

Bank:  China Bank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Community Response for Enlightenement, Service and Transformation (CREST)

1235 Trece de Agosto st., Paco, Manila

Tel. # (632) 562-4014 / 7030423

See more photos here.

More than 47,000 people living some seven to eight kilometers around Mayon were already allowed to return home. However, more than 2,000 people living in the 6-kilometer danger zone remain in the evacuation centers.

PHIVOLCS said possible sudden explosions are still likely to occur, warning residents close to the danger zone of possible rockfalls, pyroclastic flows, ash emissions, and lahar (mud lava).

Local authorities started evacuating people around Mayon on December 15; and imposed forced evacuation when Alert Level 4 was raised on December 20, fearing imminent hazardous explosion. At its peak, there were 50,000 people cramped inside public schools turned into evacuation centers in the province.

Most of the people living around the volcano were farmers whose only source of livelihood was gravely affected during the recent activity of Mayon. Their farming activities were disrupted, and most of their crops destroyed by the continuing ash fall.

More than two weeks after their stay inside the evacuation centers, Mayon residents have no immediate livelihood to return to.

Appeal for assistance

The affected families still staying inside the evacuation centers and those who have returned to their homes are still in need of food and non-food items like potable water, rice, canned goods, water containers, masks, face towels, mats, blankets, mosquito nets and hygiene kits (sanitary napkins, toothpaste, bath soap, face towel).

Donations may be sent through the following:

Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC)
72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City, 1104 Philippines

Dollar Account
Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center
Account Number:  2636-0015-83
Bank:  Metrobank, Examiner Branch
Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines
Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Peso Account
Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center
Account Number:  1560-6430-16
Bank:  China Bank, Examiner Branch
Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Tarabang Para sa Bicol, Inc. (TABI)
49 First Park Subdivision, Brgy. Sagpon, Daraga, Albay, 4501 Philippines

Peso Account
Account Name: TARABANG PARA SA BICOL, INC.
Account Number: 1810089873
Bank: Banco De Oro – Legaspi Branch

Reports from:

Tarabang Para sa Bicol, Inc. (TABI)
Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC)
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs)

PHIVOLCS reported that seismic activity dramatically increased in number and size. A total of 1,942 volcanic earthquakes was detected; Sulfur Dioxide emission rate remained very high at 6,089 tonnes per day; audible booming and rumbling sounds were reported, intensified crater glow and rolling down of incandescent lava fragments from the crater was persistent; red hot lava continuously flowed down along the Bonga-Buyuan, Miisi and Lidong gullies; lava fountains rising approximately 200 meters above the crater were observed; and the lava front has now reached about 5 kilometers downslope from the summit along the Bonga-Buyuan gullies.

PHIVOLCS said the 8-kilometer Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) should be strictly observed. PHIVOLCS also warned that areas outside of the EDZ should prepare for evacuation in the event hazardous explosive eruptions intensify.

Meantime, the local government of Albay has already ordered the forced evacuation along the EDZ, placing the number of evacuees staying in more than 20 evacuation centers to 9,270 families.

Appeal for assistance

The affected families are in need of food and non-food items like potable water, rice, canned goods, water containers, masks, face towels, mats, blankets, mosquito nets and hygiene kits (sanitary napkins, toothpaste, bath soap, face towel).

Albay Governor Joey Salceda also said the education of about 24,000 elementary and high school students will be affected by the forced evacuation once school starts after the Christmas vacation. At least 15 elementary and high school buildings were turned into evacuation centers. Salceda said the local government will be needing at least 600 tents as temporary classrooms for the displaced students.

Donations for the evacuees may be sent through the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center at 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City. Concerned individuals and donors can easily reach us at (632) 929-9822 / (632) 929-9820. Donations may also be sent through the following bank accounts:

Dollar Account
Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center
Account Number:  2636-0015-83
Bank:  Metrobank, Examiner Branch
Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines
Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Peso Account
Account Name:  Citizens’ Disaster Response Center
Account Number:  1560-6430-16
Bank:  China Bank, Examiner Branch
Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Reports from:

Tarabang Para sa Bicol, Inc. (TABI)

Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC)

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs)